The Swallow, The Serpent, and The Court of Justice

In a buzzing, bustling city full of hustle and bustle, guess what stood in the middle? The Court of Justice! Yeah, a place where they sort out your "did-dos" from your "didn't-dos." It was like the Principal's office but for grown-ups. Way up on the tippy-top of this oh-so-fancy building, a Swallow thought, "What a posh place for a crib!"

So, this Swallow was no slacker. Nope, she got busy, like arts-and-crafts busy! She flew here and there, gathering straw, twigs, and maybe a glittery thing or two. "Voila!" she chirped, "A cozy nest with a five-star view!"

Then came the big moment, the drumroll please... Eggs! She laid her eggs and did a happy dance—well, as much as a bird can dance, anyway. She couldn't wait to hear the little "cheep-cheeps" from her future mini-mes.

But then—oh, brace yourselves—here comes Mr. Slippery-Slithery, a Serpent with a grin that says, "I'm up to no good." This guy eyeballs the nest like it's a plate of cookies left unattended. "Room service!" he hissed to himself.

While our Swallow friend was out grocery shopping in the sky, this sneaky Serpent scaled the walls like he was in a spy movie. Reaching the top, he found the nest unguarded. With a wicked chuckle, he gobbled up the eggs. "Mmm, omelet al fresco," he snickered, before sliding back down, as quiet as a mouse wearing slippers.

The Swallow comes back, right? And—oh, the drama—she finds her nest empty! "Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" She was so loud; even the gavel in the courtroom stopped mid-bang. But, here's the kicker, nobody inside the Justice building heard her. Maybe they were too busy arguing about who stole the cookies from the cookie jar.

And the Swallow, bless her feathers, was flabbergasted. "Injustice at the Court of Justice? That's like having a bath with no bubbles!" She sat there, right atop this big, grand symbol of fairness, and thought how unfairly life had just treated her. She cried a river, not just for her lost eggs but for the great big irony of it all.

So, there she was, a Swallow with a broken heart in a place that's supposed to fix wrongs but didn't. Because sometimes, even when you think you're in the safest, fairest spot in the world, you've got to keep one eye open. Especially for those who slither.

Court of Justice, standing tall,
Fair and mighty, known to all.
Swallow up above, on a ledge,
Built her nest on this noble edge.

Feathers flying, twigs in beak,
Swallow’s joy was at its peak.
Eggs all cozy, future bright,
Dreams of babies taking flight.

Slippery Serpent, crafty, sly,
Saw the nest way up high.
Climbing up, so still, so keen,
In the court, he stayed unseen.

Reaching nest while Swallow’s gone,
Serpent snacked and then moved on.
Leaving empty twigs and sorrow,
For the Swallow to find tomorrow.

Home at last, what's this she saw?
Empty nest, her heart was raw.
Cries of loss filled the air,
In a place where all seemed fair.

“How could this be?” Swallow cried,
“Here, where justice does reside.
My nest on a house so just,
Yet my heart feels only dust.”

Up above, her tears did fall,
Questioning the justice for all.
But through sorrow, she’ll find a way,
To build again and hope to stay.